TelePhillyist

What's new and/or interesting on TV this week.

Show Me the Money (Tue; 9:30PM-11PM; ABC) - In this exceedingly long premier episode, the producers of "Deal or No Deal" present what they hope will be the next big game show hit. We're not sure why they chose as their title a catch phrase from an old movie that became annoying almost as soon as it became popular, but we do like their host: it's The Man Himself, William Shatner! As for the game itself, it involves contestants answering trivia questions, and then selecting a female dancer, who will somehow affect their winnings. Intriguing! Plus, how can you resist the Shat? (Link)

3 LBS (Tue; 10PM-11PM; CBS) - The debut episode of yet another hour-long medical drama. Sigh. This one focuses on two top New York neurosurgeons played by Stanley Tucci and Mark Feuerstein. In the first episode, they deal with the case of a young teen who collapses at a violin concert; she has a brain tumor, of course, but the mother is against surgery because she recently lost another daughter during an operation. D'oh. Well, doesn't sound particularly interesting to us, but hey, "House" turned out to be good despite appearances, and we like Tucci... (Link)

Day Break (Wed; 9PM-11PM; ABC) - It's Groundhog Day reimagined as an hourlong cop drama starring Taye Diggs! Yep, LAPD detective Brett Hopper (Diggs) is living the same day over and over again, and as you might expect (what with them having to base a whole series around it and everything), it's a doozie: Hopper is framed for the murder of a prosecutor (possibly by the gang he was tracking), his girlfriend and sister turn out to be in danger, too, and he can't trust either his ex-partner (Adam Baldwin) or his current partner (Victoria Pratt), because the former may have been invovled in framing him, and the latter is under investigation by Internal Affairs. Whew. Good luck, there, Taye! Anyway, on the one hand we're kind of tired of the Groundhog Day mechanic, but on the other, we could see how you could do a lot of interesting stories with it. It's a toss-up as to whether this will be one of those. (Link)

Medium (Wed; 9PM-11PM; NBC) - Normally we wouldn't be interested in this show, but in this special two-part, two-hour long episode, the title character's daughter starts having cartoon-like dreams which gradually become more and more menacing, and the animation is provided by Van Partible, creator of "Johnny Bravo." That sounds super cool! Oh, also Allison's ex (played by star Patricia Arquette's real-life husband, Thomas Jane) dies and his spirit takes up residence in the house. Wackiness, as one might expect, ensues. (Link)

College Football: Michigan vs. Ohio State (Sat; 3:30PM-7:30PM; ABC) - This Phillyist only recently discovered the joy that is College Football (yeah, we're kind of a late adopter), and the wondrous bounty of said sport that each Saturday brings. This particular Saturday features the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, which - according to the various sports commentators, anyway - is going to be pretty much the best game ever. It's undefeated rivals facing off with everything on the line in what is essentially the armageddon of college football. We can't wait. (Link)

The Simpsons (Sun; 8PM-8:30PM; Fox) - Lisa thinks the notes Moe sticks to the walls of his room are poetic, and thus sends them to a poetry journal. They are published, and Moe becomes the toast of the literary world. Don't worry, we're sure he won't be anymore by the end of the episode. (Link)

Image Credit: Flickr user m.gifford